ADI debuts tactical-grade MEMS

PORTLAND, Ore.—A new tactical-grade inertial-measurement unit (IMU) from Analog Devices Inc. achieves performance rivaling expensive, bulky fiber-optic based units by virtue of micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) chips that are almost eight-times smaller and over 10-times lighter, according to the company.

"Our tactical grade IMUs and gyroscopes achieve single-digit degrees of drift per hour, which until today could only be achieved with FOGs [fiber-optic gyroscopes] that are much larger, heavier, and more expensive," said Mark Martin, Vice President and general manager of the micro-machined products division at ADI.

The first two members of the new tactical-grade MEMS family, include a 10-degree-of-freedom IMU that combines a three-axis accelerometer, a three-axis gyroscope, a three-axis magnetometer, and a barometric pressure sensor to determine altitude—the 10th dimension. Drift is 6 degrees per hour for a unit that consumes just 0.7 watts.

The second member of the new family competes directly against FOGs, which are more expensive, bulky, heavy and power hungry than the ADI tactical-grade gyroscope. The company also claims that its tactical-grade MEMS gyroscope drifts just 3.5 degrees per hour, consumes less than one watt, weighs just 25 grams, and measures just 1.35 square inches.